Vanilla ice cream is classic! It’s the go-to ice cream flavor for desserts, toppings, sundaes, and more. And if you’re ditching dairy, you don’t have to worry because you can simply have dairy-free vanilla ice cream. You can get creative and add unique toppings and flavors, put it in an ice cream cake, make it into a dessert sandwich, and more. If you’re not sure where to start, just check out these creative recipes using dairy-free vanilla ice cream from the Food Monster App!
1. Decadent Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream
Source: Decadent Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream
This Decadent Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream recipe by Nikki Stokes tastes amazingly, shockingly, brilliantly awesome. Its decadent taste is sensational with every bite.
2. Olive Oil and Vanilla Ice Cream With Caramel Sauce
Source: Olive Oil and Vanilla Ice Cream With Caramel Sauce
This Olive Oil and Vanilla Ice Cream With Caramel Sauce by Emily von Euw is vegan, healthy, creamy, and equally delicious. Especially if you like coconut. If not, still no need to cry over spilled coconut milk; you can adjust the coconut flavor to your liking.
Get the Blissful Cookbook!
3. French Vanilla Ice Cream
Source: French Vanilla Ice Cream
There is just something so amazing and nostalgic about a simple bowl of french vanilla ice cream. The difference between regular ol’ vanilla and French vanilla is egg yolks. That’s why traditional French vanilla has a yellowish tone and a more complex custard flavor compared to the creamy white color and flavor of plain vanilla. The secret ingredients in this French Vanilla Ice Cream recipe by Larice Feuerstein for getting that eggy, custard flavor are black salt and nutritional yeast. Sounds odd, but tastes delicious we promise!
4. Raw Blueberry Vanilla Ice Cream
Source: Raw Blueberry Vanilla Ice Cream
A rich and luxurious ice cream made from a base of cashews and avocado and swirled with a sweet blueberry drizzle…how does that sound? Pretty delicious, right? This Raw Blueberry Vanilla Ice Cream by Amanda Nicole Smith has all the creaminess of traditional ice cream, with no milk required! Top with extra berries, pecans, or crumbled cookies for a truly decadent treat!
5. Mini Vanilla Ice Cream Cakes With Caramel Sauce
Source: Mini Vanilla Ice Cream Cakes With Caramel Sauce
These delectable Mini Vanilla Ice Cream Cakes With Caramel Sauce by Melissa Huggins are made up of three layers. The bottom layer is a date-sweetened almond crust, the middle layer is creamy vanilla ice cream, and the top layer has a rich dark chocolate shell. A drizzle of homemade caramel sauce takes this cake over the edge.
6. Toffee Vanilla Ice Cream Slices
Source: Toffee Vanilla Ice Cream Slices
These Toffee Vanilla Ice Cream Slices by Anthea Cheng are inspired by the Golden Gaytime, a finger-sized toffee and vanilla ice cream bar dipped in chocolate and covered in biscuit pieces, originating from Australia. This recipe is a healthier version of the Aussie dessert, made with a crumbly oat base, creamy coconut ice cream filling, and all topped with a drizzle of chocolate and divine cookie crumbles. These little bars have the same texture and taste as the original with just a fraction of the guilt!
7. Vanilla Avocado Ice Cream
Source: Vanilla Avocado Ice Cream
The concept of making raw ice cream alternatives is nothing new to the vegan culinary world. After all, who hasn’t quickly whipped up a batch of banana “nice” cream? This Vanilla Avocado Ice Cream recipe by Magdalena Pienkos uses avocado to give the dessert the optimum level of creamy lusciousness. The preparation of this dessert takes 5 minutes, including washing the blender.
8. Caramel Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Source: Caramel Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Simple ingredients blend into a creamy, decadent dessert, infused with ginger and warm spices. This vegan Caramel Vanilla Bean Ice Cream by Karen Sheer gives you a wonderful mouth feel, especially creamy with caramelly vanilla essence. Vanilla bean gel in a jar packs a bolt of vanilla flavor, and the dots of bean are incredibly appealing. To add a layer of caramel-yum-flavor, “caramelize” the sugar first, by melting it in a heavy pot. Then, the coconut milk is added, and the caramel will melt into the milk. Serve with salted caramel sauce and berries, if desired.
9. Matcha Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches
Source: Matcha Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches
These Matcha Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches by Laura Peill are the perfect solution to your cravings for refreshing cold treats on hot summer afternoons. They’re made with bananas and avocado after all (shhh … don’t tell!), so you can’t feel too guilty about them. The sandwich layers achieve the perfect, slightly crunchy consistency from the nuts and oats.
10. Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake
Source: Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake
Looking for homemade dairy- and egg-free ice cream alternatives that don’t involve bananas or an ice cream maker? You are in luck! For those who feel a pang of nostalgia when you hear the words “Neapolitan ice cream,” you’re also in luck! This Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake by Marisa Alvarsson combines the classic Neapolitan flavor trio of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla along with all-natural flavors, plant-based creaminess, and contemporary visual appeal. And it’s surprisingly easy to put together. Of course, it is much lower in sugar than the freezer staple of many a suburban home of the 1980s too. Great to prep and make in advance of a celebration, it’s a pretty party treat.
If you enjoyed these dairy-free vanilla ice cream recipes, you’ll also love 15 Delicious Ways to Make Homemade Non-Dairy Ice Cream,15 Dairy-Free Chocolate Ice Cream Recipes, and 10 Raw-Some Ice Cream Recipes!
Easy Ways to Help the Planet:
- Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
- Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
- Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
- Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
- Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
- Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
- Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!